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The Lyon in Love. Or the Political Farmer

Object type

Museum number

1868,0808.3599

Title (object)

The Lyon in Love. Or the Political Farmer

Description

Satire on Walpole's negotiations with Spain at the time of Admiral Haddock's threats to the Spainish coast in the summer of 1738. On the left Walpole, a crown and orb at his feet, holding a decorative sword chained to his wrist pats the head of a seated lion while the devil whispers in his ear; a Spaniard is cutting the lion's claws while a young woman ("Polly", representing commercial privileges offered to Walpole by Spain) bares her breast at the lion; behind another Spaniard, possibly Sir Thomas Fitzgerald, "Don Geraldino", hands Cardinal Fleury a note lettered, "All Safe". In the background to right, is an English ship in full sail while on the shore a Spaniard beats a lion, and above an angel flies carrying a flag lettered, "Britons Strike Home". Engraved inscriptions, title and explanatory verses in two columns. 27 October 1738

Producer name

School/style

Date

Materials

Technique

Dimensions

Height: 324 millimetres

Width: 200 millimetres

Inscriptions

Inscription Content

Lettered beneath image with title followed by further lines: 'An Aesopian tale, applicable to the present times.', verses: 'A lyon, once to love inclin'd...', and publication line: '27 of Octor: 1738 publish'd according to a late Act. Price. 6p'

Associated places

Acquisition name

Acquisition date

Department

Registration number

A broadside satirising Robert Walpole's reluctance to go to war with Spain; with an etching showing a group of people, in the centre foreground a man cutting the claws of the British Lion, on the left a man representing Walpole petting the head of the lion, on the right a female figure representing Spain, beguiling the lion, in the right background a warship and, at the shore, a lion reluctant to follow; with engraved incriptions, title and verses in two columns. (n.p.: 1738)